Babygarten

Babygarten is a program that brings caregivers and babies together for an hour of stimulating experiences intended to nurture the bond between caregiver and child and to increase the caregiver's awareness of their child's development. Babygarten's primary focus is the healthy development of infants aged 0-24 months old with an emphasis on language enrichment and pre-literacy skills.

The program includes:

Nursery Rhymes & SongsInfants in the womb are soothed by the ever-present beat of a mother's heart. Babies of all ages still respond to a steady beat no matter what form it takes - rhymes, music, windshield wipers, dishwashers, etc. Rhymes also provide interesting repetition of the sounds we use in everyday language. Using familiar rhymes on a regular basis encourages your child to make sounds and eventually form first words.

BooksYou will learn how to effectively share books with babies. We will also provide books for independent sharing, and the instructor may recommend books that are most popular with babies. For infants, a book represents the closeness of being held and the soft sounds that come from a familiar person. Eventually, they will understand how a book "works" and that the black squiggles somehow correspond to the sounds the reader makes. These are all pre-literacy skills that better prepare your child for a lifetime of learning.

Free PlayAt the end of the session, we'll do what we think comes naturally to all caregivers. Playing is how babies learn, and your involvement can enhance their enjoyment and enlightenment. It's fun to see how other people play and how babies respond to each other. This is where some of your best discoveries will originate - either through observation or conversation (with babies and adults!)